The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-17

structure in 1917, and John Quincy
Adams also took the oath of Office in
the same place. Henry Clay during
his three terms as Speaker of the
House, presided in the building, aud
the old walls have heard the ringing
tones of many another famous states
man of by-gone times. After Con.
gress returned to their old quarters
it was for many years a large board
ing place, though it still retained the
name Of the old Capitol. Many pub
lie men of the ante-bellum era made
their homes in it. Jefferson Davis,
Robert Toombs and Alexander
Stephens lived here together. Cal
houn also lived here for years and
here he died. During the civil war
It was known to many a brave soldier
as the old Capitol prison. When
the war broke out prisoners became
so plenty that quarters could not be
found for them, and the already his
torical building again passed into the
hands of the government. 1t was
peculiarly adapted for a prison, the
walls were thick and of stone, and it
did not take long to convert it to its
new uses. Th7 war over, it changed
hands once again. This time the
inside was torn out, mansard
roof added, separating walls were
built, and presto, three splendid
dwellings took the place of the
dreary prison. They we're put on
sale and found takers readily. Sen
ator Evarts, Of New York, bought
one, though it is not now his resi-
dence. AOjutant General Drum, of
the army, another, and the third was
purchased by Cyrus w. Field, the
tinancier, who presented it to his
brother, the Associate Justice.
Since he came into possession of the
property Justice Field has pur-
chased an adjoining lot and erected
large two story annex half as large
as the house itself.
Apart from its historical interest
the place is pleasant and restlul to
the eye. Situated on high, sloping
terrace, it overloOks the beautiful
Capitol park and faces the magni6-
cent structure. From the library
windows you get splendid view of
Arlington Nights, the beautiful
bend of the Potomac, and the city
lying west. In this library you will
find Justice Field 1T work every
morning by G o'clock, and here he
sits until IL, digging away at his
books, keeping up his correspondence
or writing his opinions for the court.
Like a number of his associates on
the Supreme Bench he does all of his
work in the morning. When he was
appointed, nearly twenty-five years
ago, he began doing, or trying to do,
his work in the evening, but he soon
found that the demands OF Washing
ton society took nearly every even
ing, and when he was not out, his
house was full of company. So he
made up his mind that he must work
in the morning, and since that has
been his practice, he has never been
in hurry, and has always had all
the time he wanted.
But to return to the library. 1t is
in the annex. We climb the ten Or
a dozen steps up to the inclined ter
race and enter a small wicket gate
which leads into pretty little garden
at the side. There is fight Of stairs
leading from this little garden di-
rectly to the library, and VIC also
climb them. The room is large and
high and lighted from every side.
| should say there were about 1000 |
volumes in the bookcases, most of !
them with the severe sheep binding,
indicating their legal character. 1t |
is not a literary but working Ii |
brary, though there are some hand. |
somely bound books of standard |
authors. On every spot of the wall |
not occupied by bookcases there is a
either an engraving or a
photograph. None of them are |
large and there are a great |
of them. All of his associ- |
ates on the bench, past and present, |
are well represented, and the numer-
Gus Field family have prominent |
places.
Meeting Justice Field ia his libra
ry where everything is study and
method and precision and observing
his deliberate manner, his quiet way
Of talking, and seeing him surrounded
with such perfectly subdued infu-
,nces, it is difficult to imagine him
tho hero of the mining camps in the
lays when human lite was laughed
It, OF the shipwreeked traveller, or
he lawyer whose life was always in